Monday, June 19, 2017

Blog Kiosk: 6/19/217 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends


Kiké Hernández had quite a day yesterday. After having been a focus of a recent article (link here) about his father's winning battle against cancer, he went out and had a fantastic game on Father's Day. Kiké recorded two doubles, two walks and a game-saving catch in the eight inning to salvage the game. (Watch it here) Per Jeremy Vernon and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:
"I was playing pretty shallow and Joey Votto is a good enough hitter that I didn't want him to shoot one the other way," said Hernandez. "The fans were talking a lot of trash, so if there was a ball hit anywhere near me, I had to catch it or throw him out at the plate. Off the bat I had a pretty good jump, but I didn't realize how shallow I was. I felt like I ran forever."
Photo above via SportsNet LA on twitter. BTW, to the right is a look at the Dodgers complete Father's Day uniform, via Kiké's twitter. Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers HistoryIn 1952 Carl Erskine throws a no-hitter against the Cubs in the Dodgers' 5-0 victory at Ebbets Field. The only Cub to get on base was the opposing pitcher via a walk. In 1973 Dodger outfielder Willie Davis collects his 2,000th career hit at Dodger Stadium with a two-run home run. In 1990 Dodgers catcher Gary Carter breaks a National League record for career games caught at 1‚862. He passes former Dodger Al Lopez who set the record in 1946. In 1991 the Dodgers signed amateur free agent Juan Castro out of Los Mochis High School in Mexico. Castro is currently the Quality Assurance Coach for the Dodgers.
  • Happy Birthday, Bill SwiftLarry MillerBob AspromonteJerry ReussButch DavisDoug MientkiewiczClaudio Vargas!
  • Video: Clayton Kershaw joins MLB Central to discuss the accomplishments he's achieved in his career and the rise of Cody Bellinger. (video link)
  • Video: Kike Hernandez speaks to Alanna Rizzo about his game-saving catch against the Reds and being able to dedicate it to his father. (video link)
  • ICYMI: Per AJ Cassavell at MLB.com; "Padres draft rookie Bellinger's brother, Cole: San Diego selects right-hander out of Hamilton High School in 15th round."
  • Per Craig Minami at True Blue LA; "Matt Herges talks about Julio Urias and Wilmer Font."
Where is Julio Urias at right now this season and his development?
“He’s talented enough to be there, to be in that rotation but we’ve still got to be careful, we’ve still got to be careful, we know that if we just said the reins are off just go be like everybody else, the risk of him getting hurt goes up just because of his age and the fact he throws the ball so violently hard, I mean he touched 97 a couple of times his last start.” 
Wilmer Font has had a great season so far, why do you think he has done so well this season? 
“I can’t speak about his previous years with any organization but we have freed him up, I think, to use his number one asset, as much as he wants to, and that’s the high fastball.” 
“He has better carry than just about anyone else in baseball, his elevation is elite, and we encourage him to do that.”
After four seasons at Belmont University, he’s taken up Minor League Baseball very nicely. He does a little bit of everything —20 home runs with 13 stolen bases and 76 walks (.357 OBP)— meanwhile carrying a sparkling .302 batting average through 241 Minor League games....
Your college-to-pro transition has been extremely smooth. How have you been able to do that?
“I love hitting. I work at it a lot. Just talking with, we have a lot of coaches in the system that have been in the big leagues. Talking about, I mean yeah you’re mechanics can be fine, but what it really comes down to most of the time for me is approach at the plate.
Was there a Dodger player who you emulated your game after?
“The Dodger player I emulated my game after was Russ Martin. I got the privilege to see Russ grow from a minor league catcher to an All-star catcher. The thing I tried to emulate most about Russ was his relentless work ethic and his fearless demeanor behind the plate. I also admired AJ Ellis for being a lower round draft pick and working to become a really good big league catcher.”
“I think she has great credibility from having been associated with and instrumental in so much of their success over such a long period of time,” Kasten said. “I think everyone around her in the organization has tremendous confidence in her... the decisions she’s made have been decisive and really smart and I think people can already attribute that to success.”

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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

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